‘Declare Boracay protected area’

Environment officials are “eager” to support the proposal to declare this island resort a protected area.
The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, however, will have to look into the proposal first, said its chief, Ivene Reyes.
The Sangkalikasan Producers Cooperative (SPC) has called for the declaration of the beachfront as a protected area.
But “right now we have no details of the proposal,” said Reyes. “We are eager to cooperate with the municipal government of Malay and SPC to declare the beachfront a protected area.”
SPC’s Jose Rodriguez earlier said Boracay needs to be declared such amid its rapidly growing tourism industry.
“We have observed that a huge area of corals at the beachfront is threatened,” he said. “We can only save the corals if the beachfront is declared a protected area.”/

No respite for Boracay police this Christmas season

All police personnel in this resort island were ordered not to go on leave beginning December 15 to January 8 or during the Yuletide season.

Police Senior Inspector Mark Evan Salvo, Boracay police chief, said the order came from the Police Regional Office-Western Visayas based in Iloilo City.

"We consider the month of December as the super peak season a time where influx of both foreign and local tourists are very heavy. We need all the police personnel we can get to ensure security in this resort island," said Salvo.

During this time, police personnel will be in a 24/7 monitoring not only at the front beach, but to all corners of this resort island. Recently, several foreign and local tourists have reported of experiencing theft incidents in this resort island.

"We will be reviving our bike patrol and we will also be assisted by the Malay Auxiliary Policemen," said Salvo.

VIGILANCE AMONG BORACAY TOURISTS URGED

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is urging tourists on world-renowned Boracay Island to be vigilant at all times. Boracay Philippine National Police Senior Inspector Mark Evan Salvo said snatching incidents have been very common crimes on the island lately. Foreign visitors, particularly Chinese, Korean, and Europeans are the common victims of snatching of wallets and electronic gadgets which they usually leave on the beach while they go swimming or lie on the sand sunbathing. Salvo said he has directed for more police visibility.

New moratorium policy up in Boracay

 The local government of Malay has imposed a new moratorium policy for new buildings along the main road of Boracay.

This developed after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in cooperation with the local government lifted the moratorium of construction in the entire Boracay effective October 1, 2014.

Malay Mayor John Yap said that he has to sign Executive Order Number 25, Series of 2014 for moratorium on new constructions at the main road within 15 meters from the center line on both sides.

"The earlier Proclamation 1064 of the DENR providing 15 meters from the center line is in conflict with the Municipal Ordinance 131 of the local government. It is but proper to temporarily stay building constructions along the cited area (main road) until such conflict is resolved," Yap said.

The Municipal Ordinance 131 of LGU-Malay only provides the main road must be six meters from the center line.

To implement the new moratorium policy, Yap tasked the Boracay Redevelopment Task Force to monitor the main road for possible new constructions. It was not stated in the executive order the possible penalties for those who violate the moratorium policy.

DOLE declares Boracay as labor compliant zone

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has officially declared this resort island as a labor compliant zone.

DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said Tuesday that around 400 establishments here were given the certificates. Many of the firms were composed of the resorts, laundry services operators, and restaurants, among others.

The said certificate is valid for two years.

Aside from Boracay declared as a labor compliant zone, DOLE also has unveiled a marker at the Cagban port.

"Also, we have launched the Productivity Improvement Project to ensure the sustainability of Boracay being considered as a labor compliant tourism destination," said Baldoz.

The DOLE Provincial Office, for its part, will launch this week an orientation seminar on Labor Standard Modules.

Miss Earth beauties to visit island resort

Miss Earth contestants will be in this island resort for a series of activities, pageant organizers said.
Boracay will host the prestigious pageant’s resort wear competition tomorrow at Casa Pilar.
The Miss Earth beauties will also take part in coastal cleanup and coral reef restoration activities under the Boracay Beach Management Program.
In 2009, the island also hosted the pageant’s coronation night.
The resort wear competition will be held in cooperation with the municipal government of Malay and the Boracay Foundation, Inc.
Miss Earth is organized by Carousel Productions, Inc.
Launched in 2001, the pageant produces beauty title holders that are actively involved in the protection and preservation of the environment.
With its environmental advocacy, Miss Earth attracted and inspired many beautiful young ladies from all over the world.
Because of this, the pageant has developed into one of the three biggest international beauty competitions in the globe.
Going 14 years old this year, Miss Earth continues to harness beauty queens who serve as eco-ambassadors of their respective countries and the world./

Caticlan Jetty Port may soon be solar-powered, says administrator

The Caticlan Jetty Port will soon be solar powered as part of its commitment to conserve energy and promote environmental conservation.

Niven Maquirang, jetty port administrator, said that his solar power plan is up for budget deliberation at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan.

The jetty port under the Economic Enterprise Development Department (EEDD) has requested a more than P100-million budget for 2015. The Aklan provincial government is planning to spend around P1.5 billion for next year.

"We are not yet sure how much of our proposed budget will be approved. Yet we hope to put up solar power. First, we will install the solar at the street lights of the jetty port and hopefully the entire jetty port in the coming years," said Maquirang.

If approved, the solar panels will be installed before Boracay hosts the Asia Pacific Economic Conference in April 2015.

Uniformed dress code for guards pushed

 Security agencies here were ordered to have a uniformed dress code for all their personnel.
Security guard uniforms vary in every agency, noted Superintendent Conrado Carganillo, chief of the Regional Operations and Plans Division–Security Agencies and Guards Unit (ROPD-SAGU) of the Police Regional Office 6.
But “some wear uniforms similar to those of the tourist police, while others wear Barong Tagalog,” Carganillo said. “It is best for security agencies to have a uniformed dress code for easy identification.”
Carganillo said the ROPD-SAGU gave the security agencies here three months to come up with a new dress code.
ROPD-SAGU met with security agencies here as part of the security preparations for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit next year.
Boracay will host APEC ministerial meetings on trade and economy.
The regional police unit believes security agencies here will become more united if they have a uniformed dress code.

Vietnam company wants to convert wastes to electricity in Boracay

A company based in Vietnam has proposed converting wastes to electricity for use in this resort island.

Neil Agustin, a Filipino and president of the El Elyon-Orion Global Renewable Energy Resource Development Corporation, said they are willing to shoulder all the cost needed for the operation.

"In Vietnam, we have nearly perfected the technology and we wanted to introduce our technology for Boracay at no cost for the local government," said Agustin during his presentation at the local council here.

The company uses a combination of technology for the different wastes. Tin cans are being converted into ore, trees into coal and into renewable energy.

"The said company requires a 100 metric tons of wastes. We know that Boracay is only producing 51 metric tons of wastes at its peak. We may seek other nearby towns in Boracay to fill the gap," said Agustin.

The Sanguniang Bayan of Malay has requested a feasibility study to ensure the successful operation of the proposed power plant.

Agustin said they wanted to put up investments in this resort island as showcase for their success story on sustainable waste management.

It was learned that several US based companies has earlier proposed to put up an Independent Power Producer in this resort island. The Vietnam-based company is so far the first Asian firm that has expressed intention to put up a power plant here.